A Winter Makeover Makes for a Spring Sale!

Now that we are well into Winter, Spring is right around the corner and will come very quickly, so plan now for your property makeover. Here in Pittsburgh, PA it's been a cold, snowy and icy winter,...just downright brutal! But we are now experiencing the winter thaw with warmer temperatures, albeit for just 1 day. It's now important to take advantage of every day should you be planning on selling your home or investment property come spring. It takes time to get a property ready to sell, so start now on your makeover essentials.

On those warmer days, go outside and survey your property. Look to see what Winter's icy fingers have touched. Typically gutters are the victims of winter. They may be hanging off, or at the very least clogged. So repair and clean them out, either by doing yourself or hiring someone to do it before some ice dam backs up water into your home. Shingles may be missing from the roof, so protect and replace where you can before the spring storms hit.. Here in the north, we have had a record number of pipe breaks this year and there is still plenty of winter left, so examine your pipes to determine if they need protection. Sidewalks and driveways may show signs of wear and tear that you can take note of and either patch or replace come early spring. If it's a current hazard perhaps it should be dealt with immediately, like slippery or seriously broken sidewalks. Remember, as a homeowner or investment property owner you don't want the public exposed to a potentially hazardous situation that could prove costly to you if not addressed right away. And don't forget the landscaping. Winter can be harsh on the lawn and trees, so get trimming and make note of bare spots that you can reseed once spring comes.

The main point here is that although you may be unable to do much while the weather is still predominantly arctic cold, you can make lists of repairs, painting, sprucing and maintenance that may need to be done and develop a plan of action once weather permits so you can gain that curb appeal to make your property shine in the neighborhood. Remember that curb appeal is the buyer's first impression and often a lasting one, so make it a good one. Look at paint samples and plan to make your property's outside show-worthy. I recommend having 1 predominant color with the trim another color and the front door being a 3rd. The Rule of 3 applies to outside paint colors as well as inside decorating. Ok, so that's the outside, but what about the inside?

Well, there's a lot that can be done on the inside and it doesn't have to break the bank. If you're planning to sell soon, now is the time to step up the renovation. The more you do to improve the look of your property, the more it may sell for. A good rule of thumb is to paint, paint, paint--but with neutral colors. People don't want to see a kaleidoscope of colors throughout a home. Painting is not always an easy thing to do for Investors who have tenants, but you can paint the common areas if need be and do some general tidying up. All of us should check smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms and ensure that a current year fire extinguisher is present and handy. Safety First!!

Ok, so getting back to the inside living areas of your property, think about making it more presentable and functional. Does the furniture need rearranged for better flow? Remember the D's of home/property selling....Declutter and Depersonalize. It's always a good idea to have your place show ready without clutter. When your property gets listed, please try to depersonalize by removing large family photos or that velvet portrait of Elvis. Buyers are trying to envision the home being their own therefore neutrality in design is more appealing. Anything that needs to be fixed, like broken railings, light fixtures, electrical outlets, wiring of any sort can be addressed right now while other things can be listed and fixed later. The same holds true of investment properties... clean it up!

Remember: you don't have to fix everything all at once, or even go it alone with everything becoming that time consuming DIY job. Ask a Realtor to come in for a listing appointment, not only for you to interview them, but also to get their opinions of what would need to be fixed or could be presented better for maximum effect, possibly garnishing a higher sale price of your property. A good Realtor will always make sound recommendations. After all, they help sell properties every single day and should have a pulse on what the market is looking for these days. A good consultation is a strong recommendation for anyone planning to sell their home or investment property.

Get started now on that listing appointment and property makeover. By doing so, you will certainly get ahead of the competition by turning your makeover into an amazing transformation in time for the Spring Rush!!